Vehicle spring suspension



H. M. CRANE.

VEHICLE SPRING SUSPENSION. APPLICATION FILED 050.11. 1919.

1,40 ,935. 7 meme d Feb. 14, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

H. M, CRANE.

VEHI CLE SPRING SUSPENSION. APPLICATION r1120 DEC. 11. 1919.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

2- SHEETSSHEET 2- INVENT/OR I ATTORNEY UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY M. CRANE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VEHICLE SPRING SUSPENSION.

Application filed December 11, 1919. Serial no. 34%025.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY 'Mi CRANE, a

citizen :of the United States, residing at New Yorkcity, in the county of New York and State of New York, haveinvented certain newv and useful Improvements 1n Vehicleis a specification.

My invention relates to vehicle spring suspension and more'particularly to a spring suspension for use on. the drive axle of a Spring Suspensions, of which the following self propelled vehicle.

r The object of my invention is to provide a spring suspension of such construction that the load springsthemselves will not only absorb'th'e vertical but also the horizontal shocks which'are imparted to the axle by the wheels in passing over obstructions or dropping into depressions inthe road sur. face as well as shocks from the sudden application of power or brakes.

The other objects and novel features of my invention will be more fully described and pointed out in the following specifica-' tion and claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a top lan view of my Invention. Fig 2 is a side el vation showing the parts in the position which they assume when the vehicle is at rest. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing in dotted lines the position which the parts assume' when the axle structure is moved to-' ward the framef Fig. 4: is a side elevation showing-1n dotted lines the pos1t1on.wh1ch the parts assume when the engine torque 1s applied. Fig. 5 is an elevation showing in dotted lines the position which the parts assume when the wheel rides over an obstruction.

Similar numerals refer tosimilar parts throughout. the accompanying drawings.

Referrin to the structure disclosed in Figs. 1 an 2: Brackets l and 2 are secured to the frame 3. The load springs 4 are connected to these brackets by the links 5' and 6 and at or near theircentres are connected against rotation to the load carrying memand ar secured to the load carrying member ber 13 of the axle structure. from the frame are brackets 8, to, which the forward endsof the radius rods 9 are secured by the pivots 10. The other ends ofthe radius rods 9 are secured by the pivots 11 to the brackets or levers 12, which depend from Depending of the axle structure, the pivots 11 being po-' sitioned vertically ofi' centre and preferably below the longitudinal axis of the axle structure. The axle structure comprises the load carrying member 13 and driving .member 14, to which are secured the road wheels 15.

In Figs.'3, 4 and 5 the brackets 2 are dismembers of the frame are curved and. one end of the links 6 is pivoted thereto.

This construction permits the axle structure or either endthereof to be moved to- Ward or away from the frame, against the resistance of the load springs without substantially swinging it from its right-angular alignment thereby compelling the load Specification of Letters Ifatent. Patented F b. 14 1922 pensed with and the rear'ends of the side 1 springs to absorb the vertical shocks which are communicatedto the road wheels when passing over an uneven road surface. It also permlts a rotation of the axle structure against the resistance of the load springs,

about the pivoted ends of the radius rods 9, to absorb horizontal road shocks and tor sion strains due to; the application of power or theapplication of the brakes, thereby relieving thedriving mechanism, clutch and tires from such shocks and strains to which they would otherwise be subjected and which -they would otherwise communicate to the frame. 7

In practice I have found that a vehicle equipped with my improved spring suspension'can be easily and accurately gulded over an uneven road surface and that vertical and horizontal road shocks and torsion strains communicated to the axle structure are almost entirely absorbed by the load springs without being imparted to the frame. I claim:

1. The combination comprising a vehicle wheels, load springs, means for connecting the load springs to the load bearing member;

pivoted at one end at distant vertically from the radial axis of the structure. v

Signed at New Brunswick, of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, this first dav of December, 1919.

HENRY M. CRANE.

d \Vit'nessesz; I frame and at the other end to-said load, carryingj member at a pomt substantially in the ceunty 

